The
Oberlin College volleyball team slid further away from the .500
mark this week, losing all four matches they participated in. Despite
a rise in the quality of play, the Yeowomen are still searching
for their second victory of the season.
This past weekend, Oberlin faced two North Coast Athletic Conference
foes, dropping matches to Denison University and Earlham College
at Denison on Saturday afternoon. On Monday evening, the Marietta
College Pioneers came to Phillips Gymnasium and stole the match
from the Yeowomen by coming from a two games to zero deficit to
win three in a row, including 15-10 in the final stanza. In further
NCAC action, Oberlin dropped a three-game match to Hiram College
on Wednesday.
“We have an enormous amount of talent but we need to work
on chemistry,” first-year Shoshannah Bramlett said.
This was apparent when Oberlin lost to Earlham College in five games
after winning the first two games in convincing fashion.
Oberlin got off to the early lead by winning the first two, 30-24
and 30-27, despite not playing with two of their regular starters.
After dropping the middle two games of the match, Oberlin was ready
and confident going that they were going to pick up their first
conference victory of the season in the deciding game. Once again,
the ball did not bounce their way and Oberlin lost the final game
15-13.
“We just got tired,” Bramlett said.
After their two losses on Saturday, Oberlin College fell to 1-15
on the season.
In what was an electric atmosphere for their third home contest
of the season, the Yeowomen came out and fed off the intensity of
nearly 100 fans by winning the first two games against the Pioneers
of Marietta College.
During the first two games, the whole team played well, but in an
all too familiar way, after a loss of energy by Oberlin and a rising
of their opponent’s game, Oberlin once again found themselves
in another fifth and deciding game. Despite putting up a great fight,
Obelin’s efforts went unrewarded once again when they fell
15-10 to the now 9-9 Pioneers.
Despite the Yeowomen’s 16th loss, the level of play on Monday
night was very high and this could prove to be an excellent steeping
stone for the second part of the season.
Oberlin will travel to the College of Wooster tomorrow to continue
NCAC competition.
“We need to find a way to get a kill,” head coach Kristen
Surovjak said. “We have taken such a big step. It is an entirely
different team. I am pleased with the team. I do see more victories
coming.”